The children's agency Tusla has urged its staff to volunteer to work in critical areas hit by Covid-19-related absences, as the number of deaths in Ireland more than doubled to a total of 19 yesterday. There are now 1,819 confirmed cases in the Republic, which is 255 higher than Wednesday evening's total.

Garda civilians have also been asked to staff drive-in test centres, while the Irish Times reports that more than a thousand public servants are set to be reassigned to boost contact tracing.

Elsewhere, the Government announced that it's to pay student nurses, the Dáil passed sweeping emergency powers into law, and the HSE admitted to shortages of some items of personal protective equipment (but said there was enough to get through to Sunday, when new stocks are due to arrive).

Meanwhile, lawyers have raised doubts over the workability of the new coronavirus wage subsidy scheme, children's services are being temporarily shifted from Tallaght hospital, and our colleagues in social protection have been dealing with ten months worth of requests in the last ten days.

Oh, and EU leaders have failed to reach agreement on a Europe-wide stimulus package.

If that's not enough good news for you, the Guardian has this global round-up.

Billy Hannigan cheered me up with this yesterday. Now it's Zen.

Look after yourselves.

Bernard